Waltham Woman Attacked Inside Her Own Apartment In Apparently Random Sexual Assault

WALTHAM (CBS) -- The public is asked to be on alert after an "exceedingly rare" crime in Waltham. Authorities say a woman in her 50s was sexually assaulted inside her own apartment in an apparently random attack.

Police said the woman returned to the Ridge Apartment Complex at about 11 p.m. on June 13 after walking her dog. Investigators said the suspect they are looking for is around six feet tall and they describe him as "non-white."

"Once back inside her apartment, she was physically and sexually assaulted by a man who had apparently entered her home undetected while she was outside," Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan said in a statement. "Investigators believe the suspect may have been in the victim's home for several hours during the attack."

Investigators believe the woman did not know her attacker. People in the area are urged to remain vigilant.

"It's everybody's worst nightmare," Marian Ryan told WBZ. "You know you're in your house which is certainly the place you should feel the safest, and you are literally getting ready to go to bed when you're suddenly confronted with a stranger. It's not a case where you come home and find a broken window or the door has been forced open. You have no idea this individual is in your apartment."

Waltham police have increased patrols in the area.

"Crimes of this nature are exceedingly rare," Police Chief Keith MacPherson said.

Anyone with information is asked to call detectives at 781-314-3550.